The wheels are falling off the Louisville basketball program. Besides Pitino being cut loose and Top 100 HS recruit Tug Bowen being declared ineligible, now, two top 2018 recruits (Simons & Ramey) have now decommitted from the Cardinals.

After his near-deadly motorcycle accident, current ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Williams worked as a recruiter for Ceruzzi Sports and Entertainment from 2007 to 2009. He’s seen the corrupt culture of college basketball firsthand, and has admittedly taken part in it.

After the FBI’s bombshell announcement and indictments of four assistant basketball coaches, Williams predicted a grim future for college basketball. He said he knew from experience. Williams dropped on live TV that he funneled $250,000 to Kevin Love’s AAU coach, Pat Barrett, while serving as a representative for the sports agency.

I hope this FBI investigation will turn college basketball on its' head. For too long, the NCAA has had no power over the wealthy schools; only picking on the ones who can't pay for the high priced lawyers. And, sports reporters have had knowledge of this corruption for years. Yet they choose not to blow the whistle because they are part of the system. Former Dukies like Williams and Bilas sit quietly because they knows any real reporting will smash the golden egg that maintains the P5 conference's basketball prominence and filled everyone's pockets with loads of cash... ESPN and CBS paid big bucks to televise future NBA stars playing for their shoe-deal affiliated schools. Now that a non-sports affiliated entity (the FBI) has kicked the door down and shined a light on these roaches, there is now a price to be paid.

Louisville basketball player suspended as NCAA's role begins in scandal

Quote:The University of Louisville has suspended a men's basketball player indefinitely as a part of the FBI investigation that led to head coach Rick Pitino and athletic director Tom Jurich being placed on leave, interim President Greg Postel said Wednesday.

"One student-athlete is being notified that he is being withheld from NCAA activities inclusive of practices and games indefinitely," Postel said. "This decision will protect both the interests of the student and the University of Louisville."

Postel, who refused to name the suspended player, said the university notified the NCAA on Tuesday, which was "all that was necessary at this point."

"I'm sure there will be future conversations (with the NCAA)," Postel said.

Freshman Brian Bowen, the player believed to at the center of the scandal from Louisville's perspective, was spotted on campus Wednesday. Spokesman John Karman said he is still enrolled.

Bowen entered the basketball facility around 10:15 a.m., about half an hour before Pitino left to meet with Postel at Grawemeyer Hall. Bowen was not with a group of Louisville players hours later when they emerged from the basketball facility after a team meeting. Some players reconvened at the facility later in the afternoon, but Bowen was not spotted entering or leaving the building with them.

When asked if Bowen was still inside the building around 6 p.m., Louisville player V.J. King said jokingly, "Nah, I think he left the country."

Louisville's initial conversation with the NCAA came after an FBI investigation into "pay for play" recruiting activities was made public Tuesday. In one of three federal complaints released, the family of a recruit only identified by "Player-10" was said to be paid in four installments. Player-10 is said to have committed to University-6 on or about June 3, 2017, “or almost immediately after the illicit bribe scheme.”

Bowen, a five-star prospect, announced his commitment via Twitter on June 3, making him the lone Louisville commit who matches that description.